Chris Burns

Summary

Objective:
To secure a senior operations role in an organisation that shares my passion and core values of:
Customer Service – delivering the highest standards
Culture – recognition of the key resource (the people)
Contribution – delivering results and exceeding KPI’s
Profile:
An experienced senior retail operations executive, who has operated at board level of a FTSE 100 company as the Retail Operations / Sales Director. Previously I worked as a senior management consultant for Arthur Andersen after spending over 10 years as a field operations manager with many of the UK’s leading blue chip retailers and out of town superstores.

Work History

Work History

Nov 2002 - Aug 2008

Director & Creator

La Vie Francaise Limited

• Created & developed a unique French lifestyle gift and boulangerie concept
• Sourced contacts in France and negotiated terms of business
• Designed and developed the website
• Spent time in France learning to cook bistro food and make crêpes
• Improved my standard of French

Feb 2001 - Nov 2002

Director Retail Sales & Operations

O2 Retail Telecoms

Accountable for the overall sales and operation of the O2 Retail Stores (c.450 stores) .Direct reports included Head of Operations, Sales, Retail IT, Property, Marketing. Planned and executed the strategic restructuring of the organisation from its diverse mix of 6 high street brands into a unified chain under a single brand identity of O2 including all change management elements.Established the policies and procedures required to support an engaging proposition to our customers underpinned by a store culture reflecting O2’s corporate vision and values.Successfully led the roll out of a new Store concept across 100 stores during 2001. Assumed day-to-day responsibility as acting MD reporting to the O2 (UK) PLC board following the departure of the Retail MD during 2001.Defined the parameters for the practical implementation of a customer-centric approach within the high street, stressing the seamless links required between Clicks & Mortar (i.e. the Web / Store / Telesales interfaces)

Mar 1998 - Dec 1999

Senior Retail Management Consultant

• Reviewed the organisational structure of Kwik Fit and developed new organisational retail structure
• Trained as a change management consultant to ensure organisations understood the human impact of change
• Completed a store operations review of Adams Childrenswear as part of a due diligence exercise on behalf of the funding banks, to assess the viability of the proposed management buy-out
• Benchmarked the wholesale / retail businesses of Mexx against similar organisations in Europe and the USA. Developed proposal for a UK retail market entry for this international fashion chain
• Developed and served as a faculty member of AA’s international retail school in the USA for non-retailers

1994 - 1998

Regional Manager

B&Q

• Assembled a cross-functional team to conduct a feasibility study for implementing computerised labour scheduling across B&Q stores. Determined the functional, training and change management requirements and selected the system vendor
• Held full P&L and operational accountability as Regional Manager for a division of stores (including 24 Super-centres) with a combined turnover of £245m
• Major achievements include winning the ‘Area Manager of the Year’ award 1996 / Area of the year / store of the year